[ad_1]
Rulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela (Image courtesy of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Twitter account)
- Mamelodi Sundowns Senior Trainer Steve Komphela expresses excitement after his first day on the job.
- The 53-year-old coach praised Golden Arrows president Mato Madlala after resigning as the club’s head coach.
- Komphela admits to being in awe of the amount of talent at the club when he joined training sessions on Monday.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ newly appointed senior coach Steve Komphela He admitted feeling “anxious” on his first official day at the Chloorkop clubhouse.
The 53-year-old shockingly announced his decision to resign as a Golden Arrows mentor with immediate effect when rumors began to circulate that he had assumed a position at Masandawana.
And where there is smoke, there is usually fire, as Komphela confirmed the rumors were true on Monday morning when the Brazilians announced the former Kaizer Chiefs boss as the club’s head coach.
Komphela will report to joint head coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena, who were recently chosen by the Sundowns board to lead the club after Pitso Mosimane left for Egypt to take a position at Al Ahly.
“The first days are very anxious, but I am very happy to be part of this great team,” Komphela told the media.
“By joining a team of this caliber, the expectations will always be there. And beyond that, joining Coach Rulani and Coach Manqoba in their head coach positions.
“It’s about coming and sharing brains and thinking about what’s best for the club.”
KOMPHELA 18-YEAR COACHING CAREER
Komphela has a healthy coaching pedigree, but he only started five years after retiring as a player in 1997. He took over Manning Rangers before mentoring Dynamos between 2002 and 2004.
He then went on to coach South Africa Under-20s before having a brief stint at Maritzburg United before coaching the SA Under-23s.
His popularity increased further when Kaizer Motaung lured Komphela to Soweto to replace Stuart Baxter after the Scotsman chose to leave Amakhosi.
Despite spending three years with the Glamor Boys, fans of the club scrutinized his approach to the game a lot and he was eventually fired.
Komphela later found himself in the Free State trying to stabilize a rocky ship at Bloemfontein Celtic.
That didn’t last long.
GRATITUDE TO MATO MADLALA
Arrows president Mato Madlala took a chance with Komphela in December 2018 and is forever grateful for the opportunity.
“I must sincerely and genuinely thank Sister Mato, my president at Golden Arrows. She has been more than a boss to me,” he said.
“She has been great, and I must say, Sister Mato, thank you very much also for the opportunity and difficult conversation we had before I was able to join Mamelodi Sundowns.
“One thing she should know, she will forever be a deep mark in my heart and I remain indebted to her.”
SUNDOWNS SUPERSTAR SQUAD
Komphela couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for talent at the club and knows some of the players as he has worked with some of the names at the Bafana Bafana level and in previous clubs.
“I’ve worked with some of these superstars here, but it was amazing to come across the cream that you come across in training camp. Amazing,” Komphela said of the current Sundowns team.
“You see quality sparks and the energy was there. You could feel like ‘OMG’. This is an environment that is so fertile that success should also be a possibility and don’t underestimate the fact that the success they build is actually their enemy because they have to improve.
“What they have built, what they are today is what you have to maintain in the worst case scenario, but you have to overcome it, it is what coach Manqoba and coach Rulani have mentioned in the past.
It’s a great atmosphere. I am also aware of the fact that new players are arriving and they are also at the same level of anxiety.
“This is my first day and as a coach you have a responsibility to calm everyone down. Now, how do you let everyone calm down when you are not calm either? But it is still a great responsibility.”
Fans will have a chance to see Komphela on the Sundowns bench this weekend as the 2020/21 season kicks off with the MTN8 quarterfinals when the Brazilians take on Celtic on Sunday.
